Informal Hearing Information

What is an Informal Hearing?

An informal hearing is a procedure to have your Illinois driver’s license reinstated if it is revoked.

Who is present at an Informal Hearing?

The only persons present are the hearing officer, you and your attorney.

What happens at an Informal Hearing?

The hearing officer will ask you approximately 50 questions from a 12 page document (you do not get to see the questions). The hearing officer writes down your answers. Then, the hearing form with your answers along with the documents you submitted is sent to Springfield for review.

Who makes the decision about whether I should get my driver’s license back?

The hearing officer makes a recommendation after the hearing. The hearing officer will not let you know the recommendation. In fact, the hearing officer will tell you that they have nothing to do with the decision. This is not accurate. Although it is true that they do not make the final decision, the hearing officer’s recommendation is important and is generally followed.

Is an Attorney necessary for an Informal Hearing?

Although you do not need to have an attorney, it is strongly recommended. At the hearing, you will be submitting both documents and testimony, and the decision about whether to give you back your driver’s license will be based upon the documents and what you say. An experienced attorney is necessary to review both your documents and testimony. I have helped hundreds of individuals that had an informal hearing without an attorney. They had messed up their case and made my work much harder. They also greatly increased the time of not having a license by years in some cases.

Do you have to schedule an Informal Hearing?

If you have an attorney, the attorney will schedule it with a hearing officer. Without an attorney, you will simply show up at an informal hearing location and wait until a hearing officer is available.

Is there a Fee to have an Informal Hearing?

No. There is no charge.

Will I find out right away if I will get my license back?

No. You will be notified by mail, and it will take up to 12 weeks to receive the decision.

What should I do if I receive a denial?

You should find an experienced attorney to help you. Going back and trying again will not resolve the problem. An experienced attorney will identify the issues and work with you to get ready for another hearing.